Her black hair was braided tight at her scalp but hung loose to her shoulders, dotted with purple, white, and blue beads. She had beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, clear skin, and nice teeth. Not that hed seen her smile.
He wondered if she was a college student. Or if she had a job. He couldnt place her accent. The only jewelry she wore was a pair of cheap gold hoop earrings.
Keep your eyes on the road, she said, her face still pressed against the glass.
The road ahead was Interstate 80, same as the road behind. And thats how it would remain all way to San Francisco. Bennett looked out the window and saw nothing but flatland. At times during the day hed felt like Jonah, swallowed by some great beast of the grasslands, its innards alien and stark.
My name is Bennett, he said. Whats yours?
The girl sat up in the passenger seat and scowled at him.
Look, mister, I wouldve never accepted a ride with a stranger unless I had to. Im smarter than that. She wagged a finger at him. I weighed the risks and benefits and made my decision. But Im not weak and Im not stupid. Never have been. Never will be.
I see that.
So dont fuck with me.
It is not my intention.
She stared at him in silence for a moment. What is your intention, then? she asked, her hostility mellowing to distrust. Why did you buy me lunch? Why did you offer to drive me west?
Bennett kept his eyes on the road as instructed. You clearly needed assistance. Weve all been there at some point in our lives.
The girl reached up and fingered the gold-fringed Mexican flag hanging from the rearview mirror, along with his pine-scented air freshener. She laughed. If youre Mexican, then Im Vanna White.
Bennett smiled. I borrowed the car from a friend. Im of German heritage.
Her stare nearly burned a hole through the side of his head. Do people call you Benny? she asked.
He laughed. How ridiculous it would sound if anyone in his life addressed him so casually! Even Julia. Interestingly, hed hardly thought of Julia in the last several days. It was as if she were part of a life that no longer existed for him. Ben or Benny would be fine, he said.
My name is LaShelle.
Nice to meet you, LaShelle.
Thanks for the ride, Benny.
Of course.
Mind if we listen to music?
Im not sure what stations are available out here.
Oh, I brought my own, she said, reaching between her feet to root through her backpack. She shoved a CD into the slot in the dashboard, adjusted the bass level, and relaxed in her seat.
The thumping was so severe that Bennett expected to look in his rearview mirror and see Skylark parts scattered over I-80s westbound lanes.
Nice speakers! LaShelle said, bobbing and weaving to the pounding beat.
Bennett kept his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road while LaShelle sang along to lyrics that, from what he could deduce, warned of big changes coming. He liked the sentiment.
What is this song called? Bennett shouted. ?Big Shit Poppin!
How prophetic, he thought.
Late that night, in a motel room on the Colorado borderand across the hall from LaShelleBennett took out his Rand McNally map. He already knew what the pages would show, but he wanted to savor it: revenge was three days away. Big shit was about to pop, indeed.
Josie didnt show for the six A.M. walk with her friends. She had no choiceshe was exhausted. Rick brought her home about ten the night before and stayed until three in the morning. How was a girl supposed to survive a seventy-two-hour emotional, spiritual, and sexual roller-coaster ride and still be interested in a break-of-dawn Monday morning hike?
So she took Genghis out on the leash for a quick lap around the block instead, knowing she looked as rough as she felt, and hoping she wouldnt run into anyone she knew. She stepped in a pile of dog doo in the middle of the sidewalk. God, how she hated irresponsible pet owners! By the time she got back to her apartment, she had less than an hour to get herself together and get to work.
As she was drying her hair, Howie showed up at her apartment, wanting to talk about Beth. Josie sat with him on the couch, her hair still wet on one side, and listened to him vent and cry. She assured him that giving her sister another chance was the smart thing to do. Howie hugged her, told her what a great listener she was, and reminded her that the family was going out to dinner that night for her fathers birthday. She arrived at the paper a whole hour late with only half of her hair styled.
Of course, Bea was the first person she saw when she entered the newsroom.
Sorry I didnt make it this morning, Josie said, hardly able to look her in the eye.
Bea cocked her head and twisted her lips. You should check your voice mail more often, Joze. Weve all canceled for the week.
Josie felt her eyes widen. Not once in all their years of friendship had they canceled their walking date for an entire week. A couple days, sure, like when everyone accompanied Ginger to divorce court. But a week?
Whats wrong? Josie said, the guilt sending her heart rate through the roof. Shed disappeared for days on end and had no idea what shed missed in her friends lives. Oh, my God, did Roxie get fired?
Bea shook her head. The Spanish Inquisition doesnt meet until Wednesday, but Roxies plan is to continue her pedal-to-the-metal freaking out until then. And one of Gingers boys was picked up by the police late last night for trespassing and curfew violation, so shes taking a couple days off to deal with him.
Josie stood frozen in the center aisle of the newsroom as Bea spoke, people weaving by them to get where they needed to go. She felt numb with remorse, ashamed for abandoning her friends for a manespecially when they didnt even know she had one!
Look, Bea, Ive got something I need to confess Bea touched her arm. Why dont you save that thought until we all get together again next week? Im sure whatever it is, Ginger and Roxie wouldnt want to miss it. Bea smiled. It can wait a few days, right?
Josie squinted, trying to figure out why Bea would turn down an exclusive. That wasnt like her. Josie had the feeling shed missed much more than Bea was letting on.
But Im late for an editorial meeting, Bea said. Talk to you later, okay? I like your new hairdo, by the way. /Ooo-kaay./ Josie watched Bea take her usual speed walk through the newsroom. Then she raised a hand to the still-damp left side of her head.
A college intern bumped Josies arm in passing and coffee splattered down the front of her white blouse.
At that point, Josie admitted to herself that she may have just wrapped up the most stellar weekend of her life, but the week ahead wasnt looking so hot.
Just wanted to update you on where we stand on this lovely Monday morning.
Rick motioned for Teeny to come in the living room and have a seat. He took the large rectangular package from him, pleased with how it had been bundled in several layers of bubble wrap under the brown paper.
This is great, Teen. Come on in.
It wasnt often that Rick took a day off, but he decided to cut himself some slack that particular morning. As it happened, the weekend with Josie had required physicaland emotionalskills hed either ignored for many years or had never used at all.
And he was worn out.
Teeny took a seat on the white leather couch and crossed his legs, launching right into it. Lets see, Bennett Cummings is officially MIA, your brand-new girlfriend knows everything about you, including the security codes to your properties and how much youre worthto the pennyand Gwen Anders just turned in her resignation.